Kim Hyo-joo finishes runner-up at the FM Championship: what the final round says about her season
Kim Hyo-joo finished runner-up at the LPGA Tour FM Championship at TPC Boston in Norton, Massachusetts, ending the tournament at 12-under 276. The title went to Yin Ruoning at 14-under, while Kim Sei-young tied for fourth at 10-under and Ryu Hae-ran, Lim Jin-hee and Lee So-mi tied for ninth at 8-under. Because the title race that had built through the previous day was settled in the final round, it is better to look beyond disappointment and examine course management and form for the remaining events.
Key summary
- Kim Hyo-joo added a 1-under final round and finished second, two shots behind the winner.
- Her chase for a third win this season and a 10th LPGA title continues, but a second runner-up finish this year confirms steady contention.
- Kim Sei-young tied for fourth, and Ryu Hae-ran, Lim Jin-hee and Lee So-mi also reached the top 10.
Confirmed facts
- The tournament was held at TPC Boston in Norton, Massachusetts, with a reported purse of 4.4 million dollars.
- Kim Hyo-joo shot a final-round 71 with three birdies and two bogeys.
- Yin Ruoning won at 14-under 274, her first victory of the season and sixth career LPGA title.
- Kim Sei-young finished tied fourth at 10-under 278; Ryu Hae-ran, Lim Jin-hee and Lee So-mi tied ninth at 8-under.
What to watch
This result should not be read simply as one player falling short. Kim Hyo-joo missed the title at the doorstep, but she has repeatedly stayed in winning positions this season. On the LPGA Tour, a two- or three-shot swing on Sunday often comes down to putting feel, par-five execution and avoiding costly bogeys. In her next event, the key is not one bogey in isolation but how she handles pressure from the middle of the final round onward.
| Section | Key summary | Action / check point |
|---|---|---|
| Final result | Kim Hyo-joo runner-up at 12-under | How often she enters contention and Sunday stability |
| Title race | Yin Ruoning rallied to win at 14-under | Late birdie chances and par-five play |
| Korean player form | Kim Sei-young, Ryu Hae-ran, Lim Jin-hee and Lee So-mi also finished high | Whether top-10 momentum continues |
| Season meaning | Kim Hyo-joo’s chase for a third season win continues | Fitness management and putting condition |
What comes next
- Watch how Kim Hyo-joo handles final-round pressure in her next start.
- If Korean players keep placing inside the top 10, late-season rankings and points races will be affected.
- Rather than judging from the title-race result alone, it is safer to consider course difficulty, weather and putting numbers together.
Search keywords
- Kim Hyo-joo FM Championship runner-up
- LPGA FM Championship final leaderboard
- Yin Ruoning FM Championship win
- Kim Sei-young tied fourth